Auburn moved swiftly and swung for the fences in hiring former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl as its men's basketball coach, the school announced Tuesday. He replaces Tony Barbee who was fired after Auburn's elimination from the SEC Tournament last week.

"I'm humbled and blessed to back in the game that I love," Pearl said. "I don't know how long it will take, but it's time to rebuild the Auburn basketball program, and bring it to a level of excellence so many of the other teams on campus enjoy."

Pearl, 54, is a proven winner with a 231-99 record in 10 seasons in Division I, eight NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet Sixteen finishes and one Elite Eight. But he also carries plenty of baggage. He is in the final months of a three-year show-cause penalty that requires a school to produce evidence to the NCAA for hiring him and bans him from recruiting until the show-cause expires on Aug. 23 of this year.

Pearl was fired at Tennessee after committing a secondary violation - hosting three recruits at a cookout - and then lying about it in 2008. That made it a major violation. He has been working as an ESPN analyst and vice president of marketing for the H.T. Hackney Company, wholesale outfit in Knoxville, Tenn.

But Auburn has detailed insight into Pearl's case and feels it can handle bringing him aboard. Auburn assistant athletic director of compliance Dave Didion led the investigation on Pearl's case, according to Al.com, which should help guide Pearl on compliance issues.

"From the moment I met Coach Pearl and heard his vision for our basketball program, it was clear he's the right man at the right time for Auburn," Jacobs said. "Coach Pearl is a proven winner who will bring energy and excitement to our program. We have raised the bar for Auburn basketball, and I could not be more excited for our student-athletes and our future under Coach Pearl's leadership. I know he agrees with me -- it's time to win."

Pearl coached 10 years at NCAA Division II Southern Indiana, where he won the national championship, and also at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before going to Tennessee. He coached the Vols from 2005-11 and compiled a 145-61 record.